Explanatory note

This Order appoints 30 March 2026 as the day on which the School Organisation Code (“the Code”), issued under sections 38 and 39 of the School Standards and Organisation (Wales) Act 2013 (“the 2013 Act”) by the Welsh Ministers, comes into force.

The Code replaces the School Organisation Code which came into force on 1 November 2018.

The Code imposes requirements and includes guidelines setting out aims, objectives or other matters in relation to school organisation proposals made under Part 3 of the 2013 Act. Under section 38(4) of the 2013 Act, it is the duty of the Welsh Ministers, local authorities, the governing body of a maintained school, the Commission for Tertiary Education and Research (“the Commission”) and other persons, when exercising functions under Part 3 of the 2013 Act, to act in accordance with any relevant provisions of the Code. In addition, any other person, when exercising any function for the purpose of the discharge by the Welsh Ministers, a local authority, the governing body of a maintained school or the Commission of functions under that Part, must act in accordance with any relevant provision of the Code.

The Code can be accessed on the internet at www.gov.wales.